Reversible automatic lock slider for slide fasteners



AMarch 24, 1942. G. M. B|zr wr`r1|y REVERSIBLE UTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER FORSL Filed May 13. 1940 IDF. FAsTNERs v 56 U ,e7 vul-2% if e g ff i 5% v Si ,e 6 ,efe 51- 30"?? 232181 u 4 -ef.

. f Y MW 14 fw 'M ATTO NEY.

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATE REVERSIBLE AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDERFOR. SLIDE FASTENERS George M. Beckwith, Meadville, Pa., assignor toTalon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 13, 1940,serial No. 334,726V

` 11 claims. (c1. 24-205. 5)

double-acting, being capable of being manually unlocked from both sidesthereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider whichis of simple, cheap, strong and durable construction; which may beoperated with ease and convenience; and which embodies tion embodying anexibie cord-like puu'member r i' extending through the slider from-sideto side new and improved reversibly operable locking i These and otherobjects and advantages of thefinvention will appear from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part' thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a slide fastener slider accordingtothis invention, as' applied to one conventional form of slidefastener, of which a fragmentary showing is made;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the slider of Fig; 1, partlyin elevation, and with the slider parts shown in locking position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the slider parts in' theposition assumed when the slider is unlocked from one side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the slider parts in theposition assumed when the slider is `unlocked from the opposite side ofthe slider;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFig. 2;V

Fig. 7 is a view, in perspective, of a detail of the slider constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on'the I 'line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the copending application of Alfred E. Carlile, Serial No. 325,763,for Reversible slider for slide fasteners, filed March 2 5, 1940, whichmatured into Letters Patent No. 2,253,494, granted August 26, 1 941,disclosure is made of a reversible slider v for slide fasteners, whereinfull reversibility of the slider 'is accomplished while complicated lugand pull tab constructions of the prior art constructions, of similartype,- are totally obviated. The slider disclosed in theabove-identiedcopending application comprises a simple,

25, slidably receiving the interlocking fastener.

thereof and slidable endwise for extension at either side of the sliderbody to provide an operating means formanually operating the slider fromthat side. r

According to this invention, the principles of the invention disclosedin the above-identified application are applied to an automatic slidefastener slider embodying a new and improved automatic locking mechanismto provide a slide fastener slider embodying automatic locking meansnormally operative to lock the slider against relative movement withrespect to the slide fastener, in conventional manner, and which lockingmeans may be unlocked through application of tension to the flexiblecord-like pull member from either side of the slider. I'he locking meansincludes a reversibly operable locking member acting as a lever of therst class when tension is applied to the exible cord-like. pull memberin one direction, and acting as a Alever of the third class when tensionis applied to the 4flexible cord-like pull member in the oppositeltogether at the bottom of `each row of fastener members I5 by a suitablebottom stop I6 of known construction.

Slidable longitudinally on the cooperating rows of vinterlockingfastener members 5 for meshing and unmeshing the members I5 to open andclose the fastener is a slider, generally designated 20. The slider bodycomprises a front wing 'member 2I and a generally similar rear wingmember 22 secured together .at their upper ends by a wedge or neckmember 24 and each provided with oppositely directed marginal sideflanges 23 which cooperate with the wedge or neck member 24 to form,between the front wing 2| and rear wing 22, an upwardly divergingsubstantially Y-shaped interlocking fastener member guiding channelmembers I5 on the reinforced edges of the Stringer tapes I2, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

Extending through the slider body from sidel strong, durable andfool-proof slider constructo side thereof, preferably within theconfines of the wedge or neck member 24, is a pull member 4and theintermediatestop 3|.

receiving bore 26 which terminates at each end in a shallow arcuaterecess or depression 21. Extending through the pull member receivingbore 26, and freely movable endwise therethrough, is a flexiblecord-like pull member or tension member 28.

The end of the pull member 28, which isl disposed at thefront of theslider, is provided with a button-like front end stop 29 which is fixedthereto, while a similar buttonlike rear end stop 30 is xed to the otherend of the tension member of pull member 28. `The button-like end stopmembers 28 and 38 are alternately recessed substantially in therespective arcuate recesses or depressions 21 in their extremepositions, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, to prevent catching uponunderlying foreign materials. and objects.

Also'iixed to the pull member or tension member 28 between the front endstop 29 and the rear end stop 30 is an intermediate stop 3|. The frontend stop 29 and the intermediate stop 3| are alternately engageable witha reversibly operable locking member, hereinafter described, to unlockthe slider.

Extending inwardly from the outer surface of the frontwing member 2| isa locking member receiving recess 32 which terminates, atthe lower endof the slider body, in a locking projection receiving opening oraperture 33 extending into the fastener member guiding channel 25. Theside walls of the locking member receiving recess 32 are preferablyflat, while the inner or bottom wall thereof is of irregular form, beingprovided with an intermediate forwardly directed projection which formsa fulcrum 34 for the reversibly operable locking member, whenA it isoperated from the rear of the slider to bring it to unlocking position.Upwardly of this intermediate projection, the bottom wall of the recess32 is offset inwardly and is closed at its extreme upper end by a bar 35which forms a fulcrum 36 for the locking member 48 when it is operatedin the reverse direction. The bar 35 is undercut at 31 to receive theoutwardly bent end of the reversibly. operable locking member 48hereinafter more clearly described. .A i

The above referred to reversibly operable locking member isgenerallydesignated 48 vand comprises an elongated lever, the majorportion 4| of which terminates at its lower end in the inwardly directedlocking projection 42 which normally extends through the opening oraperture 33 into the fastener member guiding channel 25 o f the slider.At its upper end, the portion 4| of the locking member 48 terminates inan inwardly directed bent portion 43 which is connected to the inwardlyoffset upper end portion 44 of the locking.me.mber 48, the said portion44 having an outwardly directed terminal projection 45 which is receivedby the above-described recess 31 provided for that purpose in the bar35.

The upper end portion 44 of the locking member 48 is provided with anaperture 48 which is aligned with the above-described pull memberreceiving bore 26 and through which extends that portion of the tensionmember or pull member 28 which is between the front end stop 29 Theinner side of the major portion 4| of the locking member 48 is providedwith a spring-receiving notch or recess 41 which opens toward .thelowerend of the biasing spring member 48., i

or tension member The biasing spring member 48 is in the form of a4 leafspring disposed longitudinally of the slider body and extending past thelocking projection 42 of the locking member 48 which is spaced to oneside thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. The free or inner end portion of thebiasing spring member 48 extends upwardly in the locking memberreceiving recess 32, the terminal portion thereof being disposed in .theabove-described notch or recess v41, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Atits lower or outer end, the biasing spring member 48 is provided with anoutwardly bent portion 49 which is disposed within an undercut recess 58formed at the lower end of the front wing member 2|, as shown in Fig. 7.A longitudinal recess 5| extends from-this undercut recess 58 latsubstantially rninety degrees and supports that portion of the flat partof the biasing spring member 48 which is adjacent the above-describedportion 49 thereof. Thelundercut recesses 58 and 5| thus securely anchorthe outer end of the biasing Vspring member 48 to the -front'wing 2| ofthe slider body.

.The undercut recesses 58 and 5| are preferably formed as follows.Rectangular channels or recesses are formed at the location of therecesses 58 and 5|. 'I'he substantially L-shaped lower or outer endportion of "the biasing spring member v48 is placed in the rectangularchannels or recesses. If the body of the slider is formed of metal, theedges of the rectangular channels are v upset and beaded over to formthe undercut.re.

cesses 58 and 5|. If the-slider body is formed of non-metallic plastic,the edges of the rectangular channels are softened by the application ofheat or a suitable solvent and the softened edge portions pressed overinto contact with the portions 'of the biasing spring member 48 withinthesev member 48, biases the locking member 48 in ber guiding channel25, where it extends into a. space between adjacent interlockingfastenermembers I5, positively to prevent relative longitudinal movementbetween the slider 48 and the stringers I8 and- I of the fastener.

As shown in Fig. 2, the rearend stop 38 is pulled up substantially intothe slider body and the tension member or pull member 28 is extended atthe front of the slider. With the parts in this position, in order tounlock the slider from the front thereof, it is merely necessary toapply tension to the pull member 28 directed forwardly of the slider tobring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position of theparts, it Will be seen that the front lock fulcrum 35 is operative, theintermediate lstop member 3| ap- I plying a lift tothe locking member 48between the fulcrum 35 and the biasing spring lmember 48, whereby thelocking member 4 8 operates as a. lever of the third class. Thetensionapplied through the pull member 28 and intermediate stop member3| overbalances the inward force locking projection ,42 extendsv appliedat the lower endv of the locking member 40 by the biasing spring member48 and causes withdrawal of the locking projection 42, through i theopening 30, from the Afastener member guidingI channel 25. Release yofthe tension applied to the pull member 28 will permit the biasing springmember 48 to return the parts to the locking position shown in Fig. 2. j

When it is desired to operate the slider from the opposite or rear side,it is merely necessary to apply tension to the rearend stop 30 tobring'the button-like front end stop 29 into engagement with the upperend portion 44 of the locking member 40, as shown in Fig. 3, whereuponthe rear lock fulcrum 34 will be operative, and tension applied to thepull member 28 will overbal; v

ance the inward force applied to the lower end of the locking member 40by the biasing spring member 48 to cause clockwise movement of thelocking member 40 about the rear locking fulcrum 34, whereby the lockingprojection 42 is withdrawn from the fastener member guiding ychannel 25,as shown in Fig. 3.

In this operation of the slider, the locking v member 40 operatesas alever of the first class, because the operating tension applied throughthe pull member 28 acts at one side of the fulcrum 34, while the biasingforce of the biasing spring member 48, whichisiovercome by this tension,operates at the other side of the rear lock fulcrum 34. Upon release yofthe tension applied through the pullmember 28 and the front end stop 29,which then acts as a lifting member, the biasing spring member 48 willbecome operative to return the locking member from the position of Fig.3 to that of Fig. l. If it is again desired to reverse the direction ofthe operation of the slider, it is merely necessary to pull the frontend stop member 29 forwardly of the'slider to seat the intermediate stopmember 3l against the portion 44 of the locking member 40, as shown inFig. 2 land apply tension to overbalance the force ofthe biasing spring48, 4

From the above description, `it will clearly appear -that I haveprovided anew and improved automatic lock slider for slide fasteners,which may be readily and conveniently operated from either side of theslider, and of the fastener, and

wherein the locking means is recessed entirely within the body ofV theslider and operated by the application of tension to a reversibleflexible pull member extending through the slider and operativelyassociated vwith the locking means.

It will furthermore clearly appear that I have provided, in such aslider, locking means embodying a reversibly operable locking memberacting as a lever of the first class when operated from one side of theslider to unlock the slider, and operating as a lever of the third classwhen` operated from the other side of the slider to unlock the slider.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above v description ismerely illustrative and in nowise Y( limiting and that I desire tocomprehend Within' my invention such modifications as are includedvwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what' I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider body having a fastenermember guide channel therein, locking means including alocking membercooperating with said channel for locking and unlocking said slider, andmeans for controlling said locking means including a fiexible cordmember extending through said slider body from side to side andmovable'endwise therethrough for controlling said locking means. l

2. In a reversible lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider body havinga fastener member guide channel therein, locking means including alocking member cooperating with said channel for locking and unlockingsaid slider, and means for controlling said locking means including aflexible tension member extending through said slider body from side toside and movable .endwise therethrough in either direction forcontrolling said locking means.

3. `In a reversible lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider-bodyhaving afastener member guide channel therein,

means including a locking member with a locking projection normallyyieldingly projected into said guide channel, and lock actuating meansfor manually unlocking said slider including a fiexible tension memberextending through said slider body, from side to side .andmanually'movable t endwise in either direction for moving said lockingmember from` locking position to unlocked position and-withdrawing saidlocking projection from said fastener member guide channel to unlocksaid slider. l

4. In a reversible lock slider for slide fasteners, a slider body havinga fastener member guide channel therein, normally operative lockingmeans including a locking member with a locking projection normallyyieldingly projected into saidguide channel, biasing means normallyyieldingly urging'said locking member to locking position, and lockactuating means for manually unlocking said slider including a flexiblepull member extending through said slider body from side to side andmanually engageable from either side of said slider and movable endwisein either direction for moving said locking member from locking positionto unlocked position and withdrawing said locking projection from saidfastener member guide channel to unlock said slider.

5. In a reversible lock slider fori-slide fasteners,

a slider body, normally operative locking means including a lock membernormally biasing in one direction, biasing means normally yieldinglyurging said locking member in said direction toward locking position,said locking member being movable in the opposite direction as a leverof the.

first class upon application thereto of .tension in one direction and asa lever of the third class `upon application thereto of tension in thereverse direction, land means for manually unlocking said sliderincluding a flexible tension member extending through said slider bodyfrom side to side and manually engageable from either side of saidslider body and movable endwise in either' direction for applyingtension to sa'id locking member in opposite directions to move `saidlocking member, as a lever of the rstclass or as a lever of the thirdclass,-from locking position to l slider including Va flexible tensionmember exnormally operative locking ber, and spaced stops on saidtension member V alternately engageable with said locking member' uponendwise movement of said tension member in opposite directions andalternately applying tension to said locking member in oppositedirections to move said locking member, as a lever of the rst class oras a lever of the third class, from locking position to unlockedposition.

7. In a slider for slide fasteners, a slider body having thereinnormally operative locking means, said locking means including a lockingmember with one end thereof normally biased toward locking position, aflexible tension member extending through the other end ofV said lockingmember and through said slider body from side to side, and spaced stopmembers on said tension member at opposite sides of said locking memberalternately engageable with said locking member and transmitting to saidlocking member tension applied to said exible tension member, in eitherdirection, for overbalancing said yielding means to unlock said slider.Y

8. In a slider for slide fasteners, a slider body having thereinnormally operative locking means, said locking means including-a lockingmember and yielding means normally biasing one end of said lockingmember toward locking position, al

flexible tension member extending through the l other end of saidlocking member and through said slider body from side to side, andspaced stop members on said tension member at opposite sides of saidlocking member alternately engageable with said locking member fortransmitting to said locking member tension applied to said flexibletensiongmember, in either direction, for overbalancing saidyielding'means to unlock said slider.

9. Ina slider for slide fasteners, a slider body, a longitudinal recessin one side of said slider body, a locking member in said recess havingone vend thereof constantly biased in one direction toward lockingposition, said locking member having an aperture adjacent its other end,said slider body having a bore extending therethrough from side to sideand substantially aligned with said aperture in said locking member, andsaid recess dening .oppositely directed fulcrums engageable withopposite surfaces of said locking member at opposite sides of theVaperture in said locking' member, and lock actuating means including a'flexible tension member extending through the aperture in said lockingmember and through the bore in said slider body, and a pair of spacedstop members xed to said flexible tension member at opposite sides ofsaid locking member and engageable alternately with said locking memberfor operating said locking member alternately as a lever of the firstclass about one of said fulcrumsl or as a lever of the third class aboutthe other of said fulcrums toward unlocking position.

10. In a slider'for slide fasteners, a slider body having, a fastenermember guide channel therein,

a 4longitudinal recess in one side of said slider body, a longitudinallocking member in said recess having one end thereof constantly biasedin one direction toward locking position, a locking projection on saidlast'narned end of said longitudinal locking member normally projectedinto the pull member receiving aperture in said locking member, and lockactuating means operable for moving said locking member away fromlocking position, said lock actuating means including a flexible pullmember extending through the pull member receiving aperture in saidlocking member and through the pull member receiving bore in said sliderbody, and a pair of spaced stop members fixed to said flexible pullmember at opposite sides of said locking member and alternately engagingsaid locking member upon application of tension to said flexible pullmember in opposite directions for alternately operating saidlockingmember as a lever of the iirst class about one of said fulcrumsor'as a lever of the third class about the other of said fulcrums towardunlocking position.

1l. In a slider for slide fasteners, 'aslider body l havin'g a fastenermember guide channel therein,

a longitudinal locking member receiving recess iny one side of s'aidslider body, a longitudinal locking member in said recess having one endthereof constantly biased in one direction toward locking position, alocking projection on said lastnamed end of said longitudinal lockingmember normally projected into said fastener member guide channel,biasing means yieldingly urging said last-named end of said lockingmember toward locking position, said locking member having a pull memberreceiving aperture adjacent its other end, said slider body having apull member receiving bore extending therethrough from side to side andsubstantially aligned with said pull member receiving aperture in saidlocking member, said locking member receiving recess defining oppositelydirected fulcrums engageable with opposite surfaces of said lockingmember at opposite sides -of the pull member receiving aperture in saidlocking member, and lock actuating means operable for overbalancing saidbiasing means and -moving said locking member away from lockingposition, said lock actuating means including a flexible pull memberextending through the pull member receiving aperture in said lockingmember and through the pull member receiving bore in said slider body,and a pair of spaced stop members fixed to said iiexible pull member atopposite sides of said locking member and engageable alternately withopposite surfaces of said locking member upon application of tension tosaid flexible pull member in opposite directions for operating saidlocking member against said biasing means alternately as a lever of thei-lrst` class about one of said fulcrums upon application of vtension inone direction to said pull member or as a lever of the third class aboutthe other of said fulcrums upon application of tension in the otherdirection, toward unlocking position, said fulcrums normally engagingopposite surfaces of said locking member to limit l movement thereoftoward locking position under

